Hancock bridge demolished though it was not unsafe: Plea

The Railways did not have any report that says Hancock bridge was dangerous and it needed to be demolished, said a petitioner who has challenged the BMC’s decision to demolish the bridge in the high court.

Petitioner Kamlakar Shenoy on Wednesday submitted RTI reports that show there was no specific reason to demolish the bridge. Justice Shantanu Kemkar and Justice M.S. Karnik were hearing a petition filed by Mr Shenoy, an activist who alleged that after the demolition of the bridge the number of accidents has increased in that area. He submitted that residents of the area, including school children, don’t have any other option but to cross the railway track.

The petitioner demanded a temporary foot overbridge (FOB) in that area, which the public can use regularly.

Earlier, the court had directed the BMC and railways to seek the help of the Army “by way of last resort” for the construction of the FOB at the site of the demolished bridge near Sandhurst Road station.

The court passed the direction after the superintending engineer, public works department, submitted an inspection note stating it was not feasible to construct the temporary FOB. The railways had also earlier informed the court that it could not construct a temporary bridge on the site.

On Wednesday, when the petitioner drew the attention of the court on the RTI, the court said, “We will consider all these issues later in the hearing but now we want some solution.”